Dec
13
Wed
2017
Geminids Meteor Shower
Dec 13 all-day

The Geminids is the king of the meteor showers. It is considered by many to be the best shower in the heavens, producing up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, which was discovered in 1982. The shower runs annually from December 7-17. It peaks this year on the night of the 13th and morning of the 14th. The waning crescent moon will be no match for the Geminids this year. The skies should still be dark enough for an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

Dec
17
Sun
2017
Cancelled – Great Meadow Public Night @ Great Meadow
Dec 17 @ 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Due to poor viewing conditions predicted for tomorrow, I am cancelling the Great Meadow Public Night for Sunday Dec 17.

Ray Young
Great Meadow site coordinator

 

See front page of NOVAC Site for changes to eveMore information about Great Meadow including directions and parking visit the Great Meadow Site page.

Dec
21
Thu
2017
Ursids Meteor Shower
Dec 21 all-day

The Ursids is a minor meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1790. The shower runs annually from December 17-25. It peaks this year on the the night of the 21st and morning of the 22nd. The crescent moon will set early in the evening leaving dark skies for optimal observing. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

Winter Solstice
Dec 21 @ 9:28 am – 11:28 am

The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, respectively, in the sense that the length of time elapsed between sunrise and sunset on this day is a minimum for the year. Of course, daylight saving time means that the first Sunday in April has 23 hours and the last Sunday in October has 25 hours, but these human meddlings with the calendar and do not correspond to the actual number of daylight hours.

If you life in the southern hemisphere, this is your Summer Solstice, celebrating the longest day of the year.

http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/WinterSolstice.html

Jan
1
Mon
2018
⚪ Full Moon “SUPERMOON”
Jan 1 @ 7:24 pm – 7:24 pm

This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Wolf Moon because this was the time of year when hungry wolf packs howled outside their camps. Supermoons may appear a little bigger and brighter than usual, as the moon will be closer than usual to Earth.

Jan
3
Wed
2018
Quadrantids Meteor Shower
Jan 3 – Jan 4 all-day

The Quadrantids meteor shower can yield as many as 40 meteors per hour, radiating from the constellation Bootes. It peaks this year on the night of the 3rd and morning of the 4th. Bummer though: this will occur during a nearly full moon, so all but the brightest meteors will be washed out. Still, looking up at the sky isn’t a bad way to start the new year!